2006年VOA标准英语-Crowds Turn Out to Watch Eclipse in West A

By Joe Bavier
Abidjan
29 March 2006
 
Millions of people across West Africa came out to witness what many expect will be a once in a lifetime event: a total solar eclipse¹ that made its way across the continent.  In Accra, Ghana the rare event brought a normal working day to a standstill. 

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Group of school children watch solar eclipse in Accra, Wednesday 
  

Most people working in Accra's normally bustling² central business district dropped what they were doing just after eight Wednesday morning and headed outside.

Bank worker Emmanuel Markwei was among them.

"We'll work, but for now, even the customers are outside with us," he said. "Today, we are ready to be sacked.  At least for about two hours, we are ready to be sacked."

The occasion for the citywide shutdown was an event most expect never to see again.  Ghana was one of the first places on earth where the rare total solar eclipse was visible.

Solar eclipse is seen in Accra, Ghana, Wednesday  
  
The eclipse, caused by the direct alignment³ of the moon in front of the sun, cast a silver shadow over Accra and left many residents clapping and cheering.  Mr. Markwei donned a pair of special eclipse viewing goggles⁴ to protect his eyes and watched.

"It is slowly ... it is just fading way," he said.  "Look at that.  So beautiful, so beautiful.  It is just going.  Look at that.  I cannot explain it.  It is gone.  Wow!"

After just three minutes, the sun began to shine again.  And the residents of Accra headed back to work.  But Emmanuel Markwei says he will never forget what he saw.

"When our kids are growing up, and they are learning, we can tell them there was a time in our lives when it happened," he said.  "We were there to view it and we know what we are talking about."

The total eclipse was visible along a path from Brazil, across Africa to the Middle East, Central Asia, Western China, and Mongolia.

1 eclipse   

v.使黯然失色，使相形见绌，日食，月食

参考例句：

• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。
• There will be an eclipse of the moon next month.下个月有月食。

2 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

3 alignment   

n.队列；结盟，联合

参考例句：

• The church should have no political alignment.教会不应与政治结盟。
• Britain formed a close alignment with Egypt in the last century.英国在上个世纪与埃及结成了紧密的联盟。

4 goggles   

n.护目镜

参考例句：

• Skiers wear goggles to protect their eyes from the sun.滑雪者都戴上护目镜使眼睛不受阳光伤害。
• My swimming goggles keep steaming up so I can't see.我的护目镜一直有水雾，所以我看不见。